THE ADMISSIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURAL PROBLEMS IN NIGERIAN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS
ABSTRACT
Due to the large influx of students into our tertiary institutions, and consequent increase in the population of students, the writer decided to look into some of the reasons behind the overpopulation in our major campuses and also finding solutions or a minimization of the problems at home. The study also went ahead to reveal the role that lecturer, the students, and the society at large plays in our decaying standard of education in this country. So therefore, it is hoped that the recommendation offered in this project would be of a great relevance to the individual student, lecturers and our government. This work has been arranged in three chapters which includes Introduction, Literature Review And Recommendation.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Every institution of higher learning is faced with some problems during the periods of admitting fresh students into school. Some of these problems are:
1. The average member of people needed to fill the spaces available in each department.
2. How to consider other students who are qualified because there is limited structures within the institution to accommodate them.
3. What is to be done to make sure that the fresh students are properly oriented and given a good atmosphere of learning?
There are other problems like infrastructural problems, logistics and financial problems that are faced by management during the admissions period.
Even though these problems exists, still admission of fresh students must go on so we want to look at these problems, and how management is able to tackle them either efficiently or inefficiently. Every institutions like the tertiary institution is like a business organization, and so the management has to be business minded to achieve the required result. Because failure to do that may cause the breeding of touts rather than patriotic citizens of the country.
1.1 GENERAL BACKGROUND ON THE SUBJECT MATTER
Developing countries in Africa and beyond are laying more emphasis in educating theory citizens, because they have come to know hat education is the power house for the youths, and the youths are the future of every country. Nigeria with a dwindling economy and a population of over 120 million people is among the major crusaders for citizenship education. Taking Nigeria as an example, in the recent years, the numbers of students has increased at a very high rate, as a result of the zeal to acquire western education. As a result of this, the admission are task filled when admission is an in various tertiary institutions of learning. Not only that, the infrastructures in place becomes another considering factor in almost all the tertiary institutions of learning, when ever admission is on. This is because, before the total numbers of students to be offered admission is ascertained, the first thing is to know the number of space available in every department, the lecturers that are also available. After this, the school them determines the number of student to be offered admission for the year. As fare as education continuous to be appreciated and encouraged, then these important factors must always come to the mind of management in institutions of higher learning. Before we go further into this piece, let us look at what admission and infrastructure is all about.
ADMISSION: This is the process involved in admitting a student into the higher institution of learning. The oxford advanced learners dictionary defines admission as the act of accepting somebody into an institution. So from the definition, admission has been explained in detail as the act of accepting the admission process, he or she becomes a benefit student of that institution. It should be noted that were qualification to enter a particular institution does not make the student become a bonafide student of the institution automatically. Except one passes the admission process, you are not yet a student of that institution.
INFRASTRUCTURE: The oxford advanced learners defines infrastructure as that basic systems and services that are necessary for a country or an organization, e.g building transport. It has said it all. It is just the basic amenities room for a decent atmosphere of learning.
1.2 PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUBJECT MATTER.
From what has been discussed above, it is clear that we are talking about admissions and infrastructure in institutions of higher learning. Now we are looking at the problems associated with admission and infrastructure in higher institutions of learning. Taking the institute of management and technology (IMT) and Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) as a case study. The problems of admission and infrastructure cannot be overemphasis, it is clear and visible far everyone to see. It affects every student some of these problems are highlighted below.
1. HUGH POPULATION: from year , the number of students being admitted into various institutions of learning is very high. there is yearly increase in the number of students tacking that JAMB examination. For instance, in the year 2002, there was about little 800,00 candidates who sat for the JAMB examination, while in 2003, there was an increase the almost the I million mark. So taking care of these students is no easy task.
II. AVAILABLE LECTURERS: The students are far rising above, the lecturers in a very great margin, thereby making a lecturer hal a market place so it say. There is lack of concentration among the students when those at the extremes may not be hearing what the lecturers is saying.
III. LIMITED LECTURE HALL FOR STUDENTS: The zeal for western education has made everybody want to go to school, unlike in those days when education is left for the few enlightened ones. So the number of students being admitted into different schools is more than required. But the problem here is that despite the increase in the population of students, only few new structures are erected to accommodate them.
iv. LACK OF STANDARD OFFICES FOR LECTURERS:This is a common problem in higher institutions. The situation where by 2-3 lecturers share a very tiny office, without good ventilation, is a common sight. Lack of shelves in some of these offices also is profitable. So this is an infrastructure as a result of inadequate structures.
v. HOSTELS: Accommodation problem is one of the major problems of students. And it also affects students psychologically. The high population of students does not help matters at all. The hostels available is not enough for the number of students seeking them. So at the end of the day, you see students being stranded or paying exorbitantly for a shelf in form of an accommodation.
Vi. Lecturers are faced with so many tasks at a time. Imagine a lecture marking thousands of quizzes and assignments. At a time he would be tired and probably device a means of accessing the students, either by awarding marks or just the contents. There are problems of registration of students, payment of school fess etc.
1.3 PROBLEMS THAT THE STUDY WOULD BE CONCERNED WITH
The major problems, which happens to be the main study, or the reason why this projected was gone into is that of management. What do I mean? Looking at all these problems that has been highlighted earlier on, the major figure heads in tackling this problems is the management. In this life, problem is an every day occurrence, and it is also said to be the basis of our living if we do not have problems, then why do we have to do research, in fact why do we have to live. In this life, there must be problems, and so problem of admission and infrastructure in institutions of learning is among these problems. But the question is, how are they handled? Ho handles them, and why they handle it. So this is the basis for this study. As a manager to be these questions ponder in my heart all, the time, and this is because I know that situations like this will come my way when I finally becomes the manager of an organization then way some of these problems are handled by he management now.
Management can be defined as the direction and control of an organization, and of the people who work in it. This definition was given by Denyer J.C. (2016). The institute of management and Technology (IMT) and Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) are both an organization, and since it is ruined like a business, then its management is business like. Which means that if management is not effective, there is bound to be failure and inconsistency. I want to personally look into how the management of both institutions have tried to deal with the situation at hand, or the procedures put in place for the purpose of the topics being discussed recently, the population of both institutions has increased greatly and is still growing as the years roll by IMT has its procedures of admitting my students into the institution.
THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING THE AREA
As a management science student, I will base the importance of this subject of study on the gain a management science student is to get from the result of this study. A management student studies the principles in management, and also he tries to study what management is al about. Al these will act as a guide and example when he or she eventually gets to the management position. From the project topic, “admission and infrastructural problems in tertiary institutions of learning, we are not just looking at only he problems, but the solution to these problems, that is how management is able to tackle some if not all these problems. So the major importance of studying the area is that of management technique in solving or finding the solution to some common problems facing it.
The problems as it has been listed earlier is prominent, but the most important thing is that they have to be tackled somehow, and this function is left for the management alone. This is because the method they apply in solving this problems may yield good fruits, or may even may the existing goodwill of any institution or organization. In chapter two of this project, we are going to take a look at some of the ways the management in IMT tackles this problems of infrastructure and admissions. If the technique used by them is successful, then some of this techniques when applied in future in other organizations or institute will help them to overcome some of their existing problems. Another importance of studying this are is that during the course of this study, a lot of research might have been done, and research is a very significant element of gathering information in every organization. And so the study brings the importance or usefulness of research to an organization.
1.4 DEFINITION OF IMPORTANT TERMS
There has been some important words or terms used, o which I would want to bring out or try to give their meaning as they are implied in this context. Some would be given their dictionary meaning white some would be defined by some known theorist.
Some of these terms are listed and defined below:
i. ADMISSION: This is a process involved or an act of accepting somebody into an institution.
ii. INFRASTRUCTURE: This is defined as the basic system and services that are necessary for a country or an organization e.g. building transport etc.
iii. MANAGEMENT: Management was defined by Denyer J.C (1976) as the art and science of achieving the objectives of a business in the most efficient worry